About pulling the intake manifold from the head

[llll1l1ll]

Yeah, you all prettymuch hate me here from my last post about my broken rocker arm and missing headbolt. Anyway, I really need to know what the fuck this thing is connected to the intake manifold. I have all the bolts off and everything detatched fuel-wise; except for this one thing. It's directly in the middle of the manifold, on the bottom, and it looks like its connected to the block. But like, where its connected, it looks like a spring? Man, its really bothering me because I can't get the head off without removing this thing. Or maybe I can get around it somehow. Its metal, too. Not a rubber hose like I thought it would be. Does anybody know what I'm talking about? Have any idea how to deal with it?

[DrMcDave]

i think i am in the same boat, i have all the nuts removed but i can't get the fucking thing off. What else is holding this thing on? I want to paint and it and clean it up while we have my head out, which i might add is not out yet due to the exhaust manifold bolts.

[llll1l1ll]

The exhaust manifold bolts were easy, they just took some contortionism. Make sure that each night you generously coat the bolts in a WD-40-like compound. I used WD and Liquid Wrench. The bolts should come right off with some nudging, coaxing, and brute force. As for the intake manifold, I really need to know how the fuck this thing comes off. The piece at the bottom is holding it on, but there's no way I can get grip on that thing. Plus its metal, and has a springy thing at the bottom. It's really pissing me off and I'm really looking everywhere for answers. I'm starting to get desperate!

[Jand3rson]

That's "The Spring-Loaded Tube of Death"!

So-called be cause if you aren't careful, that thing will fly out and smash you in the face. It's also a BITCH to get out of there. I reccomend getting some of those work gloves that have rubber on the grips, and just going to town on that sucker.

[Bryson]

push the tube straight down about 1" to clear the intake manifold, you can also buy a tool that will hold it down while the intake manifold is out. Make sure to buy new o-rings for it once you pull it because they are usually hard as rock. There are two o-rings, one is underneath a washer connected to the block

edit: when installing, lube up the top of it with vaseline and pull upward nice and hard to get it to set, it won't set itself

[James Crivellone]

That's "The Spring-Loaded Tube of Death"!

So-called be cause if you aren't careful, that thing will fly out and smash you in the face. It's also a BITCH to get out of there. I reccomend getting some of those work gloves that have rubber on the grips, and just going to town on that sucker.

God I fucking hate that thing, had to have somebody hold it down while I was rocking the manifold back and forth to get it off....

[Ryan Stewart]

Did you guys try taking the thermostat housing off?

I took that off and that allowed a little angling of the manifold and that tube just slid out.

[llll1l1ll]

You guys totally rock! Thanks! It looked kinda springy, but I was like, "Wtf is a spring doing down there?" Anyway, I'm sure the gasket set I bought has the o-rings in it. If not, I can find them.

Seriously, though. What does that thing do besides threaten to hit you in the face?

[Ryan Stewart]

allows crankcase pressures to make it up to the valve cover/manifold. That is how the oil makes it into your bellows.

[skat 325is]

one question, if that tube isnt installed correctly, it'll leak oil right ?

[Jordan]

one question, if that tube isnt installed correctly, it'll leak oil right ?

Alot of oil.

[James Crivellone]

one question, if that tube isnt installed correctly, it'll leak oil right ?

You would have a fountain in there.....

[skat 325is]

lol ok, thats what i thought :P

thanks

[DrMcDave]

does that mean i should drain the oil out? god knows enough has leaked into my engine anyway. hmm i need to look and try to understand what you guys are talking about w/ this spring. i didn' t notice one, but i didn't look very hard either. someone wanna post a picture?

speaking of removing heads, i found about 5 other things to fix "while i was in there"
like hoses that look sub par and i found another leak. possibly power stearing fluid i didn't really investigate it yet

[DaN]

Anybody have some close up pics of the ends of the tube, and holes in the intake and block?
I'm just curious how this thing is designed. I had my cylinder head off a year ago and that tube has been leaking oil for a while, I put new o-rings in it, but I don't recall setting it, like someone said above.